By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
On Thursday 15 June 2023, Save the Children in collaboration with the Children’s Forum Network and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists has in a joint press condemned the use of children in political campaigns.
“Save the Children in collaboration with the Children’s Forum Network and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, express deep concern over reports of children being exploited, abused and involved in political activities during the 2023 General Election Campaigns in Sierra Leone. We strongly condemn such actions and urge all political parties and candidates to immediately cease using children in political campaigns or for conveying political messages”, they expressed.
Quoting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, these institutions noted that Article 3 of the convention emphasizes that the best interest of the child shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning them. They furthered that Article 32 highlights the right of children to be protected from economic exploitation and any work that may interfere with their education, harm their health, or hinder their development.
In the press release, these institutions expressed that the exploitation of children for political purposes would not only violates their fundamental rights but also jeopardizes their well-being and future prospects. They strongly emphasized that children should never be used as pawns or instruments in political campaigns or activities. They said such actions undermined their rights, exposed them to potential harm, manipulation and psychosocial distress.
Save the Children, the Children’s Forum Network and SLAJ expressed disappointment over the recent incident that disrupted the children’s education. They statistically stated that over 220,000 pupils taking the WASSCE, primary and secondary school children were either too scared to attend their exams or did not go to school on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th June 2023. They noted that incident disrupted their academic progress and also compromised their safety and well-being.
These institutions called on all political parties, candidates and supporters to uphold the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. They urged all political parties to cease the manipulation of children in politics, ensure the protection of children and raise awareness on the importance of safeguarding children’s rights. They equally appealed to the media, civil society organizations and the citizens to remain vigilant and report any instances of child exploitation or involvement of children in political activities to the nearest police station.